Heavy Snow — Northeast Mountains, Washington

2013-02-22 to 2013-02-23 · Northeast Mountains, Washington

Event narrative

Forty-nine Degrees North Ski Resort received nine inches of snow while Mount Spokane reported twelve inches from the storm. Numerous valley locations including Clayton, Sacheen Lake, and Elk reported between one and three inches and mainly on grassy surfaces. The exception was along roadways which climbed above elevations of 2300 feet. Under a heavier snow shower, roughly half an inch of slushy snow accumulated along a small section of US 395 resulting in a brief period of slick driving conditions. A driver heading northbound on US 395 lost control of his car and crossed the center line, striking a second vehicle resulting in one fatality.

Wider weather episode

A potent and moist Pacific storm system slammed into the Inland Northwest from the afternoon hours of February 22nd through midday on the 23rd. A combination of moist isentropic ascent coupled with strong orographic flow resulted in heavy mountain snow across the mountains of Eastern Washington. Snow levels started off near valley floors but eventually rose near 3000 feet as warmer air punched into the region. Valley locations across Northeastern Washington received between one to three inches of snow while eight to twelve inches fell in the mountains.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 432073. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.